Search

Wenger looks to boost midfield

Last Updated: January 31 2014, 13:21 GMT

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out a deadline day deal for Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler but is "80 per cent" confident of bringing in one new player to bolster a squad weakened by an injury to Aaron Ramsey.

Reports had suggested the Gunners were closing in on the Germany international, 20, and that they were prepared to meet the Bundesliga side's £37million valuation.

Wenger rejected that speculation but conceded the club were still actively looking for new recruits, with 31-year-old Sweden international Kim Kallstrom of Spartak Moscow emerging as a potential target to help compensate for the expected six-week absence of Wales midfielder Ramsey.

"The Draxler situation has been created by the newspapers, not by me," said Wenger.

"You ask me, what is that situation? I say nothing is happening on that front. He will stay at Schalke."

Wenger added: "We are open-minded and active. We look at the opportunities.

"We are still trying to bring at least one body in because we are a bit hit now by the red card for (Mathieu) Flamini, the setback of Ramsey and the fact that (Jack) Wilshere is not available, which I hope will be short term.

"We are in an area where we had plenty of players, suddenly we are a bit short. It is 80/20 and I am confident we will be able to do something today."

"It is certainly a few weeks. It will be between four to six weeks. I count six, so I have no bad surprise.

"Of course it's a blow for us because we recently lost (Theo) Walcott for a long period, now Ramsey is out for a long period and it is a big setback."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho accused West Ham of playing "football from the 19th century" after being left frustrated by a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, which kept them two points behind the Gunners in third place.

Wenger, though, feels you just have to learn how to deal with whatever tactics opponents present.

"When Chelsea came to us and played a 0-0, we did not manage to score. It is our responsibility to score and you accept that, no matter what problem you face, you have to be strong enough to sort it out. That is how I approach our game," he said.

"When you don't win it is sometimes because of the quality of your opponent, sometimes because of bad luck, sometimes of the referee's decision, but you have to cope with that."

Arsenal will be without Flamini for three matches following his red card at Southampton, while fellow midfielder Wilshere continues to recover from an ankle problem and should be fit to face Liverpool next weekend.